Charge for parking in every Cambridge street to tackle congestion, councillor says

Citywide parking charges were advocated by a councillor as a new transport strategy for Cambridge was approved.

Turning over every street to residents’ parking zones and pay and display bays is one of the options in the county council’s plans and Cllr John Hipkin, who represents Castle, said this would help to tackle congestion.

He told a meeting of the council’s cabinet: “If you make the city as inhospitable as possible to incoming car users, this incentivises use of bicycles and public transport.

“I feel the measure of citywide restricted parking has only lukewarm advocacy from officers and I would like to see it strengthened.”

Cllr Hipkin said gradual extensions of the controlled parking area just moved the problem around.

Describing parking around his Oxford Road home as being “hopelessly disrupted” by commuters, Cllr Hipkin added: “There are streets which already have restricted parking and there are streets that don’t, and internecine squabbling goes on between communities about whether parking zones should be extended.

“I find myself in the middle of disputes which I find extremely disagreeable and difficult to resolve.

“I urge a more strategic approach. It has all the merits of cheapness and comprehensiveness.”